Improvement in eye and lung protectors



G. A. CRU-FUTT.

Eye :11nd Lung Protectors..

910.145,33?, Patented Dec.9,1873.

STATES GEORGE A. CROFUTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN EVE AND LUNG PROTECTORS.

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 145,337, dated December 9, 1873; application iilcd November 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concer-u:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. CROFUTT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Sight and Lung Protectors, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is designed for the use of firemen and others; and comprises a novel means of protecting the eyes and respiratory organs from the `elfects of smoke, hot gases, 85e., eX- posure to which, without protection to the person, involves Vdanger to the eyesight and liability of injury to the throat and lungs.

Figure 1 is a front view and partial vertical section of a device made according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the said device.

A is a duplex shell, each of the two portions of which is shaped to lit over one of the eyes of the person using or wearing the device. These lateral parts are concavo -convex in shape, and are so formed that when applied for use their edges it snugly against the surface of the face adjacent to and around the eyes. They are connected at a, (both being preferably' made together in a single piece,) and from one end tothe other the upper edge iits snugly upon or against the forehead. This duplex shell, therefore, covers and, so to speak, incloses the eyes, but has sufficient space with-V in for their normal movement. The edges of the shell fit so closely against the face as to exclude any passage of vapor, smoke, or the like, under the conditions hereinafter indicated.

In each half of the shell aforesaid is xed a glass or eye-piece, A', in such position that when the shell is in place, as herein previously set forth, the wearer may see through the said glasses as through a pair of spectaa cles. The glasses may, however, be plane instead of lens-shaped, and, when desired, may

be substituted by plates of transparent mica.

They may be aflixed in the shell by any suitable means, for which merely mechanical ju( ment is required. The shell itself may be of hard rubber, papiemnach, or any other suitable material.

` Upon the front or outer surface of the shell uis attached the upper edge of a curtain, B, of

any appropriate fibrous material, as, for eXample, loosely-woven woolen cloth. When the shell is applied over the eyes, as hcreinbefore explained, this curtain descends in front of and below the face, covering the mouth and over, the curtain, if held against the nostrils by the hand, or confined by a band about the neck or lower part of the face, or even, under many circumstances, simply lying against or in front of the mouth and nostrils, will filter or strain the air from smoke particles, &c., and enable respiration to proceed, without difficulty, under conditions where, otherwise, it would be impossible. It will alsol be understood that, from the sling tting of the shell around the eyes, the passage upward of moisture from the breath, which otherwise would condense upon the glasses and render them opaque, is wholly prevented. 'The face being, furthermore, wholly covered, is shielded from excessive heat, as well as from ying sparks, Sac.

The device, as thus made and applied, may be used by firemen and others in cases of iire 5 by miners, under like conditions, in mines; by apiarians in the hiving of bees; and, when the curtain is made with a illing or lining of any material capable of absorbing or neutralizing noxious vapors or gases, in any operation or under any circumstances where danger is apprehended from miasma, or vthe germs of disL ease in the atmosphere.

Vhen desired, the two parts of the shell may be made separate from each other; but in such case their adjustment and retention in place will be much more difficult than when both are made in one piece. The two eye-pieces may, if preferred, be substituted by a single piece of transparent material extending across the device, to afford sight from both eyes.

In practice, it will be found most advantageous to wet or moisten the curtain to such a degree that it will adhere closely to the face, thereby avoiding the necessity, in the main, of otherwise confinin g, it in suitable relation with PATENT OFFICE.

the mouth and nostrils, its lterng power suitable means' of securing` the same to the against smoke being also greatly increased head, substantially as and for the purpose set thereby. forth.

Vhat I claim as my invention isl The duplex shell A, provided With glasses GEO' A (JROFUTT' or transparent eye-pieces A, and shaped to lit Titnessesz the face about the eyes, as described, in oom- J AMES A. WHITNEY, bination With the curtain B, provided with a I A. MOORE. 

